Netanyahu rejects Gaza deal to appeal to base

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected a US-led Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release plan on Sunday, directly defying President Donald Trump as Israel gears up for tight elections. His move distances Jerusalem from Washington just days after Trump publicly backed the 15-point proposal, which Hamas has already signaled willingness to accept.

Netanyahu’s refusal comes as his far-right coalition partners threaten to walk out if he signs any deal giving Hamas a political foothold. The prime minister is gambling that rejecting the plan will shore up his base ahead of the September 17 vote, where his Likud party faces stiff competition from Benny Gantz’s National Unity alliance. Polls show Netanyahu’s coalition could lose its razor-thin majority if he softens his stance on Gaza.

Trump, who has made Middle East peacemaking a second-term priority, had called the plan “very fair and balanced” before Netanyahu’s announcement. Hamas officials in Doha said they viewed the proposal as a “positive step” and were ready to negotiate further. Netanyahu’s rejection risks straining relations with Washington at a time when Israel needs US diplomatic and military support to deter Iran-backed groups in Lebanon and Yemen.

The gamble may backfire if voters see Netanyahu’s intransigence as prolonging the war rather than ending it. Analysts say Israel’s security establishment privately favors some form of deal to secure the return of hostages and reduce daily violence in southern Israel. With tensions already high along the northern border, Netanyahu’s political strategy could deepen divisions at home and abroad just as regional risks are climbing.